Narses2's Blog - or what I'm slowly making progress on

[NARSES2]

To hot yesterday to do much - 30C in London, know idea what it was on the balcony which basically faces South. Still managed to get some detail painting done and started to clean up the next project (a Hawker Tornado) before it got to hot to work. The Tornado has a fair few tiny air bubbles in the wings particularly but nothing that a coat of Mr Surfacer 500 can't cure. This one is for the unofficial 3 Sqd build for the Nationals.

Chris

[Radish]

Less warm here but very muggy....I'm topless

[NARSES2]

Having expunged that thought from my brain 

The Hurricane and Spitfire XIX are primed and both need a little remedial work.

The Spitfire 22 has had it's sky band masked and undersides painted, the Tornado wings have seen a liberal coat of Mr Surfacer.

I'm toying with the idea of putting the 4 bladed prop on the Hurricane, it comes in the box, and calling it a Mk V. Could say a few were built and issued for use on the Turkish Front, where this one is to be based in my Turkey joins the Axis scenario, until such time as enough Typhoons became available ?

Chris

[The Wooksta!]

More likely to be Mk IVs locally modified.  Does it have the armoured radiator?  I'd also go with the 6 stub exhausts too.

[NARSES2]

Yup it does have the armoured radiator Lee, 3 stub exhausts though.

Modified Mk IV would also suit the scenario although as the Mk V's were all intended for India/Burma I could say that they all went to the Turkish front in my scenario ?

[The Wooksta!]

If you've the 3D Spitfire IXe set, use the round exhausts from it on a Heller 16 and keep the fishtail exhausts from that on the Hurribob.

[NARSES2]

If you've the 3D Spitfire IXe set, use the round exhausts from it on a Heller 16 and keep the fishtail exhausts from that on the Hurribob.

I have the set, cheers Lee.

Little more PSR today ; both the Hurricane and Spitfire XIX should be ready for paint now.

Had the joy of painting Ocean Grey onto Hannants grey primer this pm  Think I'll paint the dark green and then touch up the Ocean Grey.

While I was getting the Tornado ready for building I dug a Kora Miles M20/4 out. FAA fighter instead of Martlets on escort carriers or possibly a CAM ship fighter ? When building small resin kits I like having 2 on the go (sometimes more) so that I don't waste to much filler, especially if I need to get the Milliput out

[NARSES2]

Took advantage of slightly cooler weather last night and hit the Spitfire XIX with a Halfords spray can, coated it with Klear this morning, hopefully will avoid tarnishing the finish whilst I get on with the rest of the paint work.

Probably won't get to much done now until next week, busy boy over the next couple of days. Hopefully get a little painting done but not much else.

[NARSES2]

Made a little progress over the weekend.

Spitfire F.22 has its top colours on. Can start the transfers soon.

Hurricane IV (V ?) has had its undersides painted light Med blue by White Ensign - superb paints.

Spitfire PR XIX has had the first colours masked and painted, now need to mask for the glare panel.

Other things to do will mean progress this week will again be drips and drabs. Want to get these finished next week if I can before I go "oop North" for a few days

[NARSES2]

Busy old day yesterday (as is today and tomorrow) but managed to start getting the transfers om the Airfix Spitfire 22.

I've read some "comment" in the modeling press re these so I thought I'd pass my own. The transfers are matt rather the glossy but the colours are superb, they look right (I'm doing the camoflage option) and are very dense in colour. They take a little longer to come off the backing paper then some recent Airfix releases but not an undue amount. Once loose they slide onto the model with ease, no folding over even with the large underwings serials. There is a little bit of reflection from the large underwing serials, which fit superbly into the very restricted space they are intended for, I wouldn't call it silvering and a coat of Future/Klear will soon clear it. I've applied them onto a plain Xtracrylic surface by the way (forgot to coat with Klear  ). There are just about the right number of stencils, although I doubt I'll use all, life is to short.

Overall excellent transfers round of an extremely good package. Go and by them while they last in the shops 

Chris

[NARSES2]

Progressing with putting transfers on the Spitfire F.22, there's a lot of them  Just have the stencils to do now. I won't use all of them, only the ones that stand out. To many stencils make a 1/72 model look overcrowded in my view (just look at some of those "billboard F.4's) although it could also be that I'm inherently lazy.

Transfers have been put on the Spitfire PR XIX. Very few national/unit markings on this one and I've pinched some wing walk markings from a Airfix Mk V that is to sacrifice it's nose for a project. This is one area where the Airfix kit is lacking. National and unit markings and that's it. Now I know I've said I don't do to many stencils, but you'd expect the wing walk markings ? Or didn't the PR XIX have them ?

Hurricane V (I've made my mind up) has had it's top colours added. Still needs a couple more coats, especially the lighter colour. I used Halfords grey primer on this and the light colour is struggling a bit. Still it's Lifecolor so is very thin and drys quickly.

Painted lots of fiddly bits, wheels, tyres, props, spinners etc.

Get some more work done tomorrow on these projects. The Spitfires are at the stage where to be honest you don't seem to make any substantial progress, then all of a sudden they come together.

[The Wooksta!]

I rarely bother with stencils these days.  National markings, codes, serials and unit badges.  I may also add personalized touches - kill markings definitely - but that's it.

A 72nd model is a full size one 72 feet away.  I can't make out things like stencils with my eyesight so they don't go on me models!

[PR19_Kit]

Now I know I've said I don't do to many stencils, but you'd expect the wing walk markings ? Or didn't the PR XIX have them ?

Yes, see below of PS915 from the BoB Memorial Flight. Copyright as on the piccie itself.

[NARSES2]

Thanks Kit - lovely photo

[NARSES2]

The Spitfire PR XIX is now varnished and just needs a couple of things finishing as is the Spitfire 22. Should have photos by the weekend.

Hurricane has had it's undercart fitted and the upper colours are now finished. Need to varnish tomorrow (Lifecolor is very, very matt) and then can get the transfers on.

Won't be starting anything new until I'm back from "oop North" but then I'll start on my Telford builds.